We empower universities to turn bold ideas into market-shaping innovations. Join a cross-border initiative to spark entrepreneurship and drive inclusive, deep tech growth across Europe!
The NEXT-HEI project aims to establish robust collaborations between academia and the entrepreneurial sector, with a strong emphasis on the commercialisation of innovations emerging from HEIs. By fostering these connections, the project will develop a sustainable model that promotes entrepreneurial activity, enhances innovation potential, and integrates HEIs more effectively into regional and European innovation landscapes. In doing so, the project will directly contribute to addressing one of the critical bottlenecks in Europe’s innovation performance: the limited exploitation and market deployment of research results.
Join our capacity building programme to strengthen your innovation strategy. NEXT-HEI offers hands-on workshops, tech transfer, and funding Access, mentoring, job shadowing, and a tailored growth roadmap to boost your regional impact.
Apply for our two-track support programme: from idea validation to startup scaling. You'll receive coaching, business training, and pitch support, with direct access to investors, corporates, and matchmaking events in Mons, Tirana, and Istanbul.
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Become a part of the HEIconnect community to meet universities and startups across Europe. Take part in match-making, co-creation workshops, and roundtables focused on innovation, collaboration and pipeline building.
Access investment-ready startups from underrepresented regions through curated pitch events, reverse pitching, and 1-on-1 meetings. NEXT-HEI connects you with vetted ventures in deep tech, digital, and green sectors.
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Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata is a leading public university in Rome, Italy, established in 1982. Known for its strong focus on research, innovation, and internationalization, it offers a wide range of academic programs across disciplines. The campus fosters collaboration between academia and industry, attracting students and researchers from around the world.
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The European Business Angels Network (EBAN) is a leading pan-European association representing the early-stage investor community. Founded in 1999 with support from the European Commission and EURADA, EBAN unites over 150 member organizations across more than 50 countries. It plays a pivotal role in funding SMEs, facilitating investments exceeding €11 billion annually, and fostering innovation and job creation throughout Europe.
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FEA is the Foundation of the Italian Space Agency co-funded together with the Hypatia Research Consortium with the institutional mandate to support and ease technology transfer processes in the space sector. Fondazione E. Amaldi has vast experience in the financial sector including the development of alternative financial instruments and high-level technology advisory services to Venture and Private Equity Capital Funds. It is the key institution of Primo Space Fund, the first Italian Venture Capital Fund for space and it is also its exclusive technology advisor. The aim is to invest in start-ups and SMEs both in the upstream (space infrastructures) and downstream (applications based on space infrastructures) sectors to boost the New Space Economy in Italy and in Europe.
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Fasttrack Ventures empowers startups through strategic support, collaboration, and investment. Fasttrack’s mission and vision is to drive impactful growth and long-term success in the innovation ecosystem.
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Corallia, founded in 2005 as part of Athena RC, is a think tank, incubator, accelerator and multi-cluster facilitator that has played a key role in developing Europe’s startup ecosystem. It has supported 500+ companies, including 300+ new startups, and benefited over 10,000 people and organisations directly and 100.000 indirectly, fostering entrepreneurship and innovation at all levels.
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Design Terminal is an international innovation agency. It leads and participates in Horizon projects at the European level. It supports talents and companies in their development through business consultation and personalized accelerator programs. Its international experts help clients find the best solutions to their challenges. By building communities, it offers a wide network and lasting experiences for all program participants.Its professional grant writing services lay the groundwork for project success. The experienced team supports clients in identifying opportunities, crafting strong applications, and assisting in future project implementation.
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Bedër University College is a higher education institution and offers study programs in the first and second cycle, based on the Albanian legislation, focused in two main fields: humanities and technology and business. It is organized based on the Bologna Declaration and updates its curricula with the latest publication in the European universities establishing a measurable standard of quality teaching and research excellence which positively affects the possibility of an increased engagement of community in the realisation of its mission, but also their increased commitment to give a positive impact to the society.
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Fenerbahçe University, founded by the Fenerbahçe Education Foundation in Istanbul, offers modern, student-centered education in a dynamic academic environment. With strong ties to industry and a commitment to innovation, it prepares students for global careers through diverse programs, international collaborations, and cutting-edge research opportunities. The university emphasizes excellence, ethics, and lifelong learning in all disciplines.
The NEXT-HEI Open Call supports startups, spin-offs, and HEI-affiliated innovators to scale impactful solutions in deep tech, digital, green, and AI domains. Selected teams gain tailored mentoring, investor readiness training, and access to Europe’s leading innovation network.
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The NEXT-HEI Open Call supports universities and HEIs to strengthen innovation capacity, entrepreneurship education, and ecosystem collaboration. Selected institutions gain mentoring, training, and EU-level visibility to advance their strategic role in Europe’s innovation landscape.
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Selection and Onboarding of HEIs and startups I. cohort
Higher Education Institution Trainings
Startup Acceleration I. cohort
Matchmaking and networking events
12 weeks training - Venture Building Course
Selection and Onboarding of HEIs and startups II. cohort
Startup Acceleration II. cohort
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